Waitlist template · Inspired by Robinhood
The Startup Prelaunch
The Startup Prelaunch is a referral waitlist template: people join your waitlist, refer friends to climb the queue, and the people at the top get early access first, the way Robinhood launched.
- Best for
- Launching with a waitlist
- Who gets rewarded
- The top of the waitlist
- A referral counts when
- A friend joins the waitlist
- Plan
- All plans
You’re on the list, Maya
Your place#1,204
2,318 people behind you. Every friend who joins moves you up.
Jay joined with your link. Every friend who joins moves you up.
Campaigns run on the Startup Prelaunch
How does the Startup Prelaunch work?
Your launch list grows itself: every place in the queue is one more reason to share.
- 1
They join the waitlist
Visitors click your button and take a place in line.
- 2
They refer friends to climb
Every friend who joins moves them closer to the top.
- 3
The top gets in first
People at the top get early access, or any other reward you choose.
Who is the Startup Prelaunch for?
A new SaaS or AI product
Early access to a new product, with the waitlist ordered by referrals.
Run by
A new app or feature
Invite friends to move up for the new card, app or feature, with perks for the first in line.
Run by
A launch in a new market
A waitlist for a new country, built before the product opens there.
Run by
What rewards can you offer with the Startup Prelaunch?
There is nothing to configure: the list is ranked by successful referrals, and you decide what the top of it gets.
| Place | Example reward | Delivered |
|---|---|---|
| Top of the list | Early access before launch | By you, when you open the doors |
| Top referrers | Launch-day perks or swag | By you, from the ranked list |
| Everyone else | Access in order of priority | As you roll out |
The prelaunch templates have no built-in reward delivery: your dashboard lists everyone sorted by successful referrals, so you pick the winners and reach them yourself. Booster emails remind people to keep sharing, at least five days apart.
Results with the Startup Prelaunch
Customer story · Startup Prelaunchultimate.money, a DeFi wallet, opened its private beta with a referral waitlist people climbed by inviting friends.200,000 people in the first four weeks
Customer story · Milestone Referral
Growth Tribe went from idea to an online growth marketing summit in one month, with an ambassador program.A third of all registrations came from referrals
Customer story · Milestone Referral
JoeyWears built the email list for its Kickstarter launch with a milestone referral prelaunch.Every sign‑up brought 1.4 sign‑ups
Customer story · Tempting Giveaway
Mustard built a new audience for Camp Bestival Shropshire with a referral giveaway before the ticket pre-sale.30% more sign‑ups from referrals
Customer story · Milestone Referral
Prentus, a career platform, launched with a waiting list that unlocked rewards as people referred friends.20% referral rate
Customer story · Newsletter Referral
the DONUT, a daily news newsletter, was one of the first to run the Newsletter Referral, rewarding its readers.From zero to tens of thousands of subscribers
What’s included in the Startup Prelaunch?
Publish your waitlist in about 15 minutes, no code. Zapier, webhooks and the API connect anything not listed.
All integrationsWidgets
- Join form, as a popup or embedded
- Waitlist position and sharing
Pages
- Landing page, hosted by Viral Loops
Emails
- Booster emails
Works with
MailchimpEmail
HubSpotCRM
MetaAds
Google AnalyticsAnalytics
Zapier500+ more apps- Webhooks & APIDevelopers
FAQ
Startup Prelaunch FAQ
How is the waitlist ranked?
By successful referrals. Every friend who joins moves the referrer up the list.
How do I give the rewards?
When you are ready to launch, your dashboard lists everyone sorted by successful referrals. Pick the top and give them early access or the reward you promised. Fraud detection flags anyone worth a second look.
Can people see where they stand?
Yes. Each participant sees their place in line and how many friends they referred, and the public list shows up to 25 people.
What are booster emails?
Reminders that nudge people to keep sharing, with different messages for the top of the list and everyone else. They go out at least five days apart, automatically or when you press Boost.
Can I use my own form?
Yes. ultimate.money ran this template with its own form, built on the Viral Loops API.
Which plan includes it?
Every plan, from Start-up up.
Start with the Startup Prelaunch.
Plans start at $35 a month, billed annually. Try it free for 14 days, or talk to our team.